Stepping Up


Bryce Harper delivered in the clutch Wednesday for a Phillies team that coming off back-to-back bullpen meltdowns. Having just squandered a 4-1 lead moments earlier, on a Giants rally that included former Phillie Darin Ruf crushing a three-run pinch homer and left fielder Andrew McCutchen dropping a fly ball followed by an RBI single, Harper's talent and determination turned the game around.

Batting with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the 7th, Harper crushed a Camilo Doval pitch to center for a game-tying home run. Two innings later, Harper walked to lead off the last of the 9th. Brad Miller's fourth hit of the day moved him into scoring position. Andrew Knapp completed the comeback with an RBI single that brought home Harper for the victory.

While one could say, "It's just one win, it's still mid-April," this one likely meant a little more to the guys in white and red. It prevented a series sweep... by the Giants... managed by the former Phillies skipper Gabe Kapler, who a majority of Philadelphia phans revile.

It also minimized the pain of that miserable 7th inning, with the Phils not ready to accept that another season will be undermined by a shaky bullpen. And it how underscored Harper, their pricey 2019 free agent, who now deals with a back issue, can put the team on his back and say "not this time!"  

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